Children’s Mental Health Day 2025
Raising Awareness About The Mental Health Needs of Children and Youth
HAMILTON, ON – Lynwood Charlton Centre celebrated Children’s Mental Health Day on May 7, 2025, which is a part of Children’s Mental Health Week (May 5-11). This year, Children’s Mental Health Ontario has chosen the theme: “Voices Unheard, Stories Told: Centering the Diversity of Ontario’s Infants, Children & Youth.”
Did You Know?
Black, Indigenous and racialized youth face barriers such as racism, discrimination, cultural insensitivity, and stigma that prevent access to mental health services and create negative experiences, with 21% of youth in CMHO’s network reporting discrimination when accessing care (The New Mentality, 2022).
Black children and youth wait longer and have difficulty accessing health services, in comparison to white children and youth (Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, 2025).
42% of parents surveyed by CMHO identified the location of programs (i.e., programs located outside of their community) as a significant gap in accessing care (Children’s Mental Health Ontario, n.d.).
34.6% of families and 61.5% of youth indicated that, despite expressing a preference for French language services when seeking child and youth mental health care in Ontario, they were unable to access such services in their native language at some stage during their mental health journey. (Lemay, Kelly, Guérin Marion & Sundar, 2017).
SOURCE: cmho.org
Why Does This Matter?
Right now, too many many children, youth, and families—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, Francophone, Northern, and low-income—continue to face disproportionate barriers when accessing mental health care. Their stories often go unheard, even as they navigate long wait times, service gaps, and systems not designed with their identities and experiences in mind.
Children’s Mental Health Day is an opportunity to:
Raise Public Awareness about the importance of timely, high-quality child and youth mental health services.
Amplify Stories that highlight the urgent need for culturally safe and community-based mental health services.
Advocate for Government Investment to build a stronger, more responsive mental health system that addresses systemic inequalities.
Celebrate our clients and our staff and all community mental health centres on the front lines.
Explore the Children’s Mental Health Week “Voices Unheard” Digital Showcase
A virtual gallery of powerful stories, artwork, and expressions from children, youth, and families across Ontario highlighting the mental health experiences of equity-deserving communities.
This space centres the voices of those too often left out of the conversation—Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, refugee, Northern, and Francophone youth and families. Take a moment to witness these stories and honour their truths.
Our Message of Hope
Every young person in Hamilton deserves to feel seen, supported, and hopeful about their future. On National Children’s Mental Health Day, we join communities across Canada to celebrate that simple, powerful truth. Even during tough times, hope is a lifeline—a connection to strength, to others, and to a brighter tomorrow. At Lynwood Charlton Centre, we see this thread of hope every day. We see it in the courage of a young person asking for help, in the dedication of a family offering support, and in the resilience that grows with every small step forward.
Here are just some of skilled clinical staff at Lynwood Charlton Centre who support our children, youth and families each and every day.
Upper Paradise Program Staff: Lynwood Hall, Compass Day Treatment, GPS Intensive In-Home
Charlton Hall Program, Intensive Out-of-Home Program
Specialized Counselling Services: SAAT, Oasis, YouThrive
Compass Day Treatment Program
This day is a reminder that no child or youth should have to face mental health challenges alone. Whether you’re a young person feeling overwhelmed, a parent worried about your child, or a friend who wants to help—you are a vital part of the hope in our community.
How You Can Help Weave a Stronger Safety Net
Check In: Reach out to a young person in your life. A simple “How are you, really?” can make all the difference.
Listen with Compassion: Create space for them to share without fear of judgment.
Share Hope: Let them know that it’s okay to not be okay, and that help is available.
Spread the Word: Help reduce stigma by talking openly about mental health.
If you or a young person you love is struggling, please remember that you are not alone. Lynwood Charlton Centre is here for you with free, compassionate support.
Let’s weave a community where every child and youth knows that their story matters, their voice is heard, and hope is always growing.
